NTSB: Oklahoma teens’ car made ‘rolling stop’ before crash
Mar 24, 2022, 3:40 AM | Updated: 3:50 pm
A memorial is set up after six high school students died Tuesday, March 22, when their car collided with a tractor-trailer near Tishomingo, about 130 miles south of Oklahoma City. (Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman via AP)
(Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman via AP)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A small, four-seat, car carrying six Oklahoma teenagers reportedly failed to come to a full stop before entering an intersection where it was hit by a large truck, killing all of the teens, the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday.
“Witnesses reported the (vehicle) made a ‘rolling stop’ at the stop sign and entered (the intersection),” where it was struck Tuesday by the truck that was hauling rocks, according to a statement from NTSB spokesperson Peter Knudson.
The southbound semitrailer struck the left front of the eastbound vehicle carrying the girls and both vehicles departed the roadway, according to the NTSB.
The six girls, ages 15-17, were in a Chevrolet Spark that is designed to carry four passengers and only two of the six were wearing seat belts, according to a report by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The driver of the truck was not injured, according to the NTSB, which sent four investigators and a family assistance specialist to Tishomingo, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) southeast of Oklahoma City, to look into the collision.
The girls were students at Tishomingo High School and were on a lunch break at the time, according to district Superintendent Bobby Waitman.
The names of the girls have not been released. A memorial service for them has been scheduled at the school on Friday night at the football stadium.
Flags outside local business were flown at half-staff in their memory.
NTSB investigators are expected to complete on-scene work by Monday and provide a preliminary report on the crash within 30 days.
A final report on the probable cause of the collision is expected in one to two years, according to Knudson’s statement.
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